The phenomenon of the beech “pasciona”
Life goes on, it renews itself, it amazes us. Look at these images and remain, as we did, open-mouthed in amazement. So much beauty takes place in the Cansiglio forest, between Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Here, where there is one of the oldest and largest indigenous beech forests in the Alps, these days the transformation and future of the forest are visible thanks to the continuous sprouting of new leaves from the millions of small seedlings that have sprouted on the ground and are now growing. This phenomenon is called beech pasciona and is a kind of ritual that takes place with an uncalculable frequency. The year before, the branches load up, get heavier and bend over for the seeds: the beech seedlings. The following year, the natural phenomenon of germination appears.
Small seedlings that are destined to naturally renew the ancient Bosco dei Dogi of the Serenissima Republic of Venice, but about whose frequency there is nothing mathematical. For more than twenty-five years, scholars have been monitoring the pasciona, a term inspired by the ancient tradition of letting pigs graze under oak trees. There is the partial pasciona, with only the trees placed in full sunlight producing abundant fruit. And there is full grazing, such as the one that occurred in 2020, when fruit abounded on most of the trees. When the phenomenon will occur is not known for sure. Because it is a genetic biorhythm of plants, also influenced by weather conditions. As well as geographical area.
We just have to enjoy this spectacle of nature.
